The talking machine world (Jan-June 1919)

May 15, 1919 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 83 SNiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin Gleanings From the World of Music ?llUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!INIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIilllIllllllllllllin^ THE PRESENT-DAY POPULARITY OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC The Part Played by the Orchestras in Winning Public Favor for Certain Compositions — Dance Craze Proves a Big Factor — Some Recent Instrumental Successes The band and orchestra departments of the popular music publishing houses are showing greater activity than ever this season. It would appear from the results accomplished that the bands and orchestras, especially the orchestras, are becoming greater factors in the popularization of music. Not that they have not always been a force in developing the success of numbers but with the greater interest that has been shown in music they seem to have greatly enlarged the scope of their efforts and have become more powerful in advancing the interests of the popular publishers. The publishers in the past have always iirst concentrated their efforts on making the song itself a success, for after all they are primarily song publishers, after which the orchestrations of the number were printed and the campaigns in those fields were inaugurated. This always appeared to be the logical step, but the greater interest that has been shown in music has brought many new developments, and from all indications the orchestra has become more active in the eyes of the publisher and this situation is being rapidly recognized. During the past two or three years there have actually been several numbers the primary success of which must be credited to the work of the orchestras, and in at least two of the cases in question this decision is beyond dispute, inasmuch as the publishers of the numbers in question neither had the support of the concert or vaudeville singers nor did they have the cooperation of the trade. They did, however, have the fullest measure of assistance from the orchestras. This was no doubt due to the popularity of the composer of the numbers, and of course to the musical value of the selections themselves. It is now freely admitted that the mechanical reproduction of a number does not injure in the least the sale of the song itself in sheet music form, but it was not at first so freely admitted . that the record and the player-roll helped in popularizing a song. However, many of the leaders in the music publishing field have in recent years come to recognize that without doubt the mechanical reproduction of an instrumental selection does help to popularize the song and an analysis of the monthly releases of the various mechanical reproduction companies shows that there are always several numbers featured for dance. Without doubt dance enthusiasts are the most prolific of record buyers, and the majority must have the latest hits for their purposes each month. Here then is a method of popularizing music in instrumental form that would not ordinarily be open to the publisher. Dance enthusiasts are quite critical and the selections for them are probably made with great care. If it passes their tests they, the dancers, become advertisers of the selections by humming them, by word of mouth, and by requesting them to be played when they go to places of amusement. Probably not in recent years have there been as many instrumental successes as there are at the present time, that is to say, wonderfully big sellers and numbers whose popularity has not quickly waned. Among these are "Hindustan", "Beautiful Ohio", "Till We Meet Again", "Yearning", "Sweet Siamese", "How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm", "Kentucky Dreams", "Indianola", "A Good Man Is Hard to Find", "Always Chasing Rainbows", "Me-ow", "Mary", "Ja Da", "Chong", "Out of the East" and the various "shimmie" selections. These latter, however, probably have passed the zenith of their popularity and appear to have given way to selections which, to say the least, are both more musical and are more worthy in lyric form. flIllllllllllllllllllllllll[|[IIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIII[NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII|[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII[IIII!II[llll( I Men Who Make Popular Songs | I No. 2— Ernest R. Ball I There is a question that has never been settled but is heard quite frequently, "Just How Long Can a Popular or Semi-Popular Composer Turn Out Successful Songs?" If there has ever been a time limit placed or if, as some hold, song writers are successful only in cycles, then Ernest R. Ball, whom we have always with us, is a living proof that all the theories in that regard are totally wrong. One does not know how long Ernest R. Ball has been writing successfully, but despite the Ernest R. Ball fact that he is still a young man we have from authoritative sources that it has been a long, long time. Probably his earliest and one of his most successful works was "Love Me and the World Is Mine." This number and his "Till the Sands of the Desert Grow Cold" have become standard, and to-day despite their age can be found in any music store, and dealers tell us that they still have a good sale. In speaking of his works that have become standard one must not forget "Mother Machree," nor for that matter "A Little Bit of Heaven," tlie former of which is always a welcome addition to any program, and always receives a rousing reception. It can be said without contradiction that Ernest R. Ball is one of the best-known composers of the time. Many of his works seem destined to live forever, and in addition he appears to have the faculty of writing numbers tliat are appropriate to the moment. The following is a list of Mr. Ball's old, best and latest hits; "Will You Love Me in December?" "In the Garden of My Heart," "My Dear," "Turn Back the Universe," "Roll on. Oh Beau(Coiitinucd oil page 86) STERN'S BIG •□'EN" HIT No. 1 " EV'RYWHERE THAT WILSON GOES " Some Roaring Song HIT No. "I'M GLAD I CAN MAKE YOU CRY" Some Waltz Song HIT ■No; ;. 2 ' "ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE" Some Lodge Song HIT No. 7 "INDIANOLA" Some Novelty Song HIT No. "WAIT AND SEE" Some Waltz Song HIT 8 m^l^ "PAHJAMAH" ^^mmP: Some Oriental Song KIT "TEARS OF LOVE" : • , ' . Some successor to Smiles HIT No. 9 "KENTUCKY DREAM" ' Some High-Class Waltz Song "OH HELEN" Some Comedy Song HIT No. 10 "MY GAL'S ANOTHER GAL LIKE GALLI-CURCI" Some Wonderful Song ■PUB THESE NUMBERS CAN BE OBTAINED IN RECORD-PLAYER ROLL AND SHEET MUSIC FORM JOS. W. STERN & CO.